Water Quality (WQ) testing was performed in March (under ice), June and September in 2023. Except for some spurious results in September 2023, the results showed that the Kennisis lakes are still in relatively good shape from a water quality perspective with respect to nutrients (Total Phosphorus – one of the nutrient indicators). Three measurements in September showed very high Total Phosphorus which are suspected to be an anomaly or resulting from contaminated samples. These are being investigated.
The Total Phosphorus (TP) results in the east bay of Little Kennisis showed more reasonable levels in 2023 than in previous years.
These results represent a sober warning that we need to take immediate action to preserve our water quality on the Kennisis Lakes. As the representative from the MOECP reminded us, it’s entirely up to us to maintain the health of the water in our lakes – no one will do it for us.
The KLCOA WQ testing partnership with Woodlands and Waterways EcoWatch (WWEW, a subsidiary of U-Links) continued in 2023. In 2023, WWEW and Lake Association citizen scientists sampled water quality parameters from 35 sites on 25 lakes plus a reference lake in Haliburton Forest (Stocking Lake). This program represents a broadscale monitoring objective of having water quality data that is comparable across lakes within the County and with neighbouring regions.
See the full 2023 KLCOA WQ report HERE!